In hopes to be a part of the American culture, seven students from different countries have joined the student body. From Santiago, Chile to Bologna, Italy they are all here from different parts of the world with the common goal: to experience America.

Dominique Dabancens
Grade: 12th
From: Santiago, Chile
Host Family: Becker family

Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
“I wanted to be away from my family and explore a different language and country.”

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve been asked?
“Someone asked me if I can speak English. Do you know English?”

What is the difference between BVSW and your school?
“Chile has over 10 million people and I lived in an apartment in Santiago. At my school we wore uniforms and we start in March and end in December. Our summer is in between December and February. So everything is flip-flopped.”

What are you involved in at Southwest?
“I am on the cross country team because I love to run. I did track in Chile. ”

What is different about our customs compared to Chile’s?
“We greet people we know with a kiss and a hug, if we don’t know them we shake hands in Chile. Here you just say Hello. ”

SarahKowalski
Grade: 12th
From: Hamburg, Germany
Host family: Petermann  family

What is the difference between BVSW and your school?
“Southwest is much bigger than my school in Germany. We don’t have lockers, and sports aren’t right after school.”

What is different about our customs compared to Germany’s?
“People are more friendly here than they are in Germany.”

Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
“I wanted to learn a different culture. I have been to the US before so I wanted to improve my English.”

What are you hoping to gain?
“I want to gain friends, good English and school spirit.”

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve been asked?
“Do you speak German?”

Cathrine Ruud
Grade: 12th
From: Trondheim, Norway
Host Family: Holloway family

What is the difference between BVSW and your school?
“The overall system and how it works with teachers in class. Classes are only 60 minutes and there are only six class periods in a day. Everyone has lunch at the same time. Also some classes are mixed between ages here, it’s only in your grade level [in Norway].”

Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
“I guess it was because of my siblings. I have three older ones and they have all done something similar and we have even housed [foreign exchange students] in our house.”

Why did you want to come here?
“I’d like to try something new and different. I wanted to meet new friends and experience the American culture.”

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked?
“Do you have these clothes in Norway too?”

Erik Berge
Grade: 12th
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Host Family: Sanders family

What is the difference between BVSW and your school?
“First and foremost the lunch is free. No school fees are set out, you don’t have to pay. We only have three years in high school, but we have one extra year of school. Our school days are longer (8:20-4:30).”

Why did you decide to come here?
“I went to the United States in sixth grade and after that it just became a dream of mine to go here and experience the US as an American. It is very different from everyday life. My father did in the ‘70s and inspired me to.”

What are some differences?
“The food. I’d think it wouldn’t matter but I miss old food. The overall system and how it’s built. Religion is a bigger factor here. Everything is just different. I’m getting shocked everyday. There’s always new stuff. The first week was crazy.”

Activities:
Soccer, chambers, and jazz band (plays bass).

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked?
“Do you talk Swedish?”

Erik Alenfal
Grade: 12th
From: Lomma, Sweden
Host Family: Sweeney family

What is the difference between BVSW and your school?
“Southwest is half the size and much easier to find things here. In Sweden, they don’t have sports and meals are free.”

What is so different about our customs compared to Sweden’s?
“It is very similar. We don’t go to church in Sweden. We don’t really have manners.”

Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
“I have been here before, so I wanted to work on my English and get a better experience of America.”

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve been asked?
“Do girls in Sweden shave their armpits?”

There is a rule that allows a family to host a student from outside of the Blue Valley district and with the district’s permission they are allowed to attend a Blue Valley school. Seniors Frida Leknes and Beneditta Mattei are both considered guest residents though both of them are from outside of the United States.
“They [my host parents] knew that Southwest was a good school and had a good reputation,” Leknes said.

Frida Leknes
Grade: 12th
From: Kristiansand, Norway
Host Family: Forney Family

What are the differences between BVSW and your school?
“Norway has 13 years of school. I will have two senior years. High school doesn’t begin until 11th grade and there are three years. At these schools you cannot pick and choose subjects. You pick the school and choose one direction for your life. These schools don’t guarantee acceptance either.  It’s almost like choosing what you want to do for a living. I’m in design, art and media.”

Why did you want to be a foreign exchange student?
“There were magazines for teens. I used to read blogs about it and it seemed like fun.”

What’s the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked?
Do you guys speak a different language in Norway?

Beneditta  Mattei
Grade: 12th
From:  Bologna, Italy
Host Family: Sanders Family

What are the differences between BVSW and your school?
“There are five years in high school. Subjects aren’t up for choice. There are different types of schools for specific career paths. I prefer this school.”

Why did you want to  be a foreign exchange student?
“It’s like my dream to live in the American culture and with American people. I get to see how different it is from my country.”

What do you think about the school?
“It’s wonderful, I love it here. The people are so nice. I get to take classes like drawing and ceramics and personal fitness. I love this school. ”

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked?
“You come from Italy, do you speak Italian?”